NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Shi

A Chinese name meaning "scholar" or "warrior of the lion clan".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 35 boys.

Shi is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Shi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3214, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 12 births.

This profile covers 92 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 2000 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 58% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 100 living people in the UK are called Shi. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shi ranked #3214 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 12 girls were registered as Shi.
  • Shi ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #783 in 2009.
  • Shi is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 100 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 72.4% of Shi registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3214

2016

Births in 2016

7

Latest year

Peak year

2008

12 births

Estimated living

100

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Shi

In England and Wales birth records, Shi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 27.6% of registrations are for boys and 72.4% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

28% boys
72% girls
Boys35 (27.6%)Girls92 (72.4%)

Shi registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,702 in 2019
  • 3 boys registered in 2019
  • Peak: 2008 (5 births)

Shi registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,214 in 2016
  • 7 girls registered in 2016
  • Peak: 2008 (12 births)

Meaning

What does Shi mean?

The name Shi has its origins in various languages and cultures around the world, with a rich history dating back several centuries. In Chinese culture, the character "施" is pronounced "Shi" and means "to bestow" or "to give." This name has been used in China for centuries and is often associated with generosity and kindness.

In Japanese, the name Shi can be written as "志" or "史," with the former meaning "will" or "determination," and the latter meaning "history" or "chronicle." This name has been prevalent in Japan for generations and is often associated with strength of character and a respect for tradition.

In Sanskrit, the name Shi is derived from the word "Shiva," which is the name of one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Shiva is known as the Lord of Destruction and Transformation, and the name Shi is often associated with spiritual growth and inner transformation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shi can be found in the ancient Chinese text, the "Book of Changes" (I Ching), which dates back to the 6th century BCE. In this text, the name is associated with the concept of "nourishing" and is linked to the idea of nurturing growth and development.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Shi. One of the most famous is Shi Huangdi, also known as Qin Shi Huang (259 BCE - 210 BCE), the first emperor of a unified China and the founder of the Qin Dynasty. He is known for his ambitious construction projects, including the Great Wall of China and his famous terracotta army.

Another notable figure is Shi Nai'an (1296 - 1372), a Chinese writer and author of the famous novel "Outlaws of the Marsh," which is considered one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature.

In Japan, Shi Naoshi (1848 - 1924) was a prominent writer and poet during the Meiji period, known for his contributions to the development of modern Japanese literature.

In the realm of art, Shi Tao (1642 - 1707) was a renowned Chinese painter and calligrapher during the Qing Dynasty, known for his innovative techniques and influential style.

Finally, in the field of science, Shi Yingxin (1681 - 1755) was a Chinese astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the understanding of solar and lunar eclipses, as well as the calculation of planetary movements.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Shi, demonstrating the rich cultural heritage and significance of this name across various regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shi over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Shi in England and Wales, from 1997 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shi, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2016, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0491317199720082019

Decades

Shi by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shi was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #3284 50 7
2000s #3405 42 7

Geography

Where Shi is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Shi. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Shi ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #783 in 2009.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Shi in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#783 in 2009

3 years of NRS records, 9 total registered

Related

Names similar to Shi

FAQ

Shi: questions and answers

How popular is the name Shi in the UK right now?

In 2016, Shi was ranked #3214 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Shi most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 12 babies registered as Shi in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shi?

A Chinese name meaning "scholar" or "warrior of the lion clan".

How many people are called Shi in the UK?

A total of 92 babies have been registered as Shi across the 14 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 9 more in Scotland.

Where is Shi most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Shi ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #783 in 2009. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.